DATE: 03 MARCH 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - SA Weather Service: Update on Tropical Storm “IRINA”

At 02:00SAST, Moderate Tropical Storm IRINA was located at 25.5S and 37.6E (in the vicinity of
Inhambane, Mozambique) and is moving in a west-south-west direction at 13knots. The storm
retains Moderate Tropical Storm status until Tuesday, 6 March 2012.

07:45Z
According to the latest track forecast the storm will continue in a southerly direction from tomorrow, 4 March 2012 and will move away in a south-easterly direction on Monday, 5 March 2012. By Tuesday the storm will re-curve back and move northwards. There is, however, no further indication that the storm will make landfall in the following 5 days – refer to Figure 2 below.

Fig: 1 Model output

Fig2: Track Forecast

Due to its position relative to the coastline it will, however, still result in heavy falls of rain (>50mm/24hrs) over the extreme southern parts of Mozambique, Swaziland, Mpumalanga southern highveld and the east coast and adjacent interior of South Africa, which will create the risk of flooding in those areas. Very rough seas with wave heights in excess of 4-6m are also expected from Richards Bay to Maputo.

Fig3: Rainfall >50mm/24hrs 03/03/2012

Fig4: Rainfall>50mm/24hrs 04/05/2012

The South African Weather Service is monitoring the situation and further updates will follow as more information becomes available.

Issued by:
South African Weather Service (SAWS)